Tag Archives: genetics

I’m currently completely wound up in stressing about my degree show – which is on the 19th June here, for anyone who wants to come (it’s entirely public) – but managed to fit in an entry to this competition. The task was to sonify the coding sequence of a gene taken from Baker’s Yeast. Very interesting. Unfortunately some sort of technical problem means that my entry hasn’t appeared on their website yet :-/ I’ve made two versions. One is less manipulated, the second used extra processing of MIDI signals to modulate parameters – feat. jiggerypokery by Fred Baker.

Version 1

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Version

2 (feat. Jiggerypokery by Fred)

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Here’s my desription of concept;

This piece explores the intricate thought that is required to comprehend how such simple representation – using the letters A, T, G & C as symbols – can actually contain the instructions for life, any life, to exist (even something as humble as Baker’s yeast). Taking the coding sequence as an independent entity, I’m trying to expose the inherent simplicity, but use sonic aesthetics to be suggestive about implicative complexity

.. and method;

I recorded myself speaking A, T, G & C. Then I wrote a simple program to send MIDI messages corresponding to the coding sequence, into Ableton Live, where the sequence was recorded- forming the core of the piece.

Post production involved manipulation of the pitch and timing of the sequenced samples. An additional percussion track and effects sends add depth. Plogue Bidule was used to manipulate MIDI signals which modulate parameters in Ableton Live.

The meter quickens throughout the length of the piece, building to a crescendo at the end.

What’s joesart.org

joesart.org was originally a blog used to keep my journal of activity while studying Interactive Arts between 2006 and 2009. Dormant for 3 years I have resurrected it as of October 2012 in order to document my progress through the HighWire PhD programme at Lancaster University.